Chapter 108

Chapter 108

Zhao Song, disregarding his own safety, rushed into the room in a hurry, his official hat askew and his forehead drenched in sweat.

Su Peisheng followed closely behind, his expression equally grim.

Seeing the dark looks on both their masters' faces, he quickly said, "Master, there's trouble in the harem."

Geng Shuning smirked to herself, hardly surprised.

Her wandering thoughts were quickly pushed aside. She gave Yinzhen a sly look and then sat down on the luohan couch.

"What happened?" Yinzhen, forgetting his earlier annoyance with Geng Shuning, sat beside her on the luohan couch and asked in a serious tone.

Zhao Song knelt down: "Your Majesty, after lunch, Changchun Palace, Cining Palace, Yonghe Palace, and Zhongcui Palace all sent for the Imperial Physician, reporting that the eldest princess, the second princess, and the two young princes might have eaten something bad and are now suffering from diarrhea."

"The Imperial Hospital and the Imperial Kitchen wasted no time and sent people to the palaces to examine the young masters."

"Before the Imperial Hospital and the Imperial Kitchen could determine the cause, Consort Qi and Consort Xi suddenly collapsed. Changchun Palace and Yonghe Palace were in chaos and quickly reported the incident."

"Imperial Physician Chang has already hurried over..."

Yinzhen immediately stood up and said to Geng Shuning, "You should rest first; I'll handle this."

Geng Shuning raised an eyebrow: "The harem is my responsibility now; why should I rest? I'm coming with you."

Yinzhen frowned, "All the children in the harem are sick, and Li Shi and Niohuru Shi have also collapsed. This is clearly targeting you..."

"Whether someone is trying to harm the royal heirs or create a diversion to cover up a murder, it's undoubtedly linked to the earlier incidents involving the star of ill omen and the assassination attempt."

After Yinzhen's sweeping court reforms, he hadn't yet had the chance to placate the court officials and imperial clansmen with rewards, and it would take time to do so gradually.

During this time, Geng Shuning and the Geng family were under scrutiny, and now that she was managing the harem, even the smallest mistake could spell disaster.

"Then I must go even more," Geng Shuning said, smoothing her clothes, her face showing a hint of murderous intent.

"Squash one problem, and another pops up. As long as these people aren't dealt with, they'll always find new ways to stir up trouble."

Yinzhen's expression was subtle: "You... don't be too rash."

He never imagined he'd be the one giving such advice.

Though this little fox shared his temperament, he at least knew when to hold back and endure grievances, balancing both the court and the harem.

But Geng Shuning was different. She despised losing, and her boldness sometimes made him uneasy.

"In the end, they just want a piece of you. Every part of you is mine, and no one else can have it!" Geng Shuning scoffed.

Yinzhen: "..." His inner conflict showed on his face, making him almost want to laugh at that moment.

Su Peisheng and Zhao Song: "..." They wished they couldn't understand such suggestive talk!

Geng Shuning pushed Yinzhen out: "Let's split up. You head to Changchun Palace, and I'll go to Yonghe Palace."

"Chief Su, arrange for the second princess, the third prince, and the Fourth Prince to be taken to Changchun Palace, and have Imperial Physician Zheng from the Empress Dowager's side join the consultation."

The retired emperor preferred not to stay in the palace and returned directly to Changchun Garden after the Lantern Festival banquet.

The Empress Dowager, unwilling to return and be controlled by Emperor Kangxi, went back to Shoukang Palace.

Since the disliked Lady Wu Ya had already been sent to the hot spring retreat, and with Geng Shuning serving her meals, she lived more comfortably than anyone else could.

Of course, this was also due to Geng Shuning's sweet talk, deliberately orchestrated.

Besides Yinzhen, as the thorn in the side of all the consorts in the rear palace, to manage the rear palace, she had to keep a Buddha figure to keep all the troublemakers in check.

This had also been bothering Yinzhen.

He found that Geng Shuning, after returning to the palace, was not as considerate as she had been at the retreat.

At least back then, she had aspirations to take charge or something, but now it's hard to even get her to join him on the imperial bed for a romantic talk, let alone...

Moreover, Yinzhen discovered that, compared to relying on him, the little fox clearly preferred to rely on the old man and the Empress Dowager. What exactly did he lack compared to the two elders?

With a heart full of frustration, and with both the consorts and children in the rear palace in trouble, Yinzhen slightly squeezed Geng Shuning's small hand, giving her this gesture of respect, and silently took people to Changchun Palace.

*

Geng Shuning didn't even have time to change out of her armor, and took people directly to Yonghe Palace.

As soon as she entered, she heard the palace maids in Consort Xi's quarters wailing—

"Mistress, wake up! Wake up! His Majesty is coming soon!"

"Imperial Physician, please save our mistress!"

"Someone, bring hot water quickly..."

The trusted head maid Chunhe, and another head maid Chunle, were guarding the main hall of Yonghe Palace and the side hall where the third prince was.

Though pale-faced, they remained relatively calm.

Hearing the commotion, they looked up and saw Geng Shuning. Chunhe instinctively looked back, seeing Zhao Song with a few eunuchs, and no one else behind, she instinctively blocked the entrance with a stern face.

"This servant has seen Lady Suining. Our mistress and the little prince are in critical condition, and there's really no time to entertain you!"

Chunle also blocked the side hall with a few palace maids, looking at Geng Shuning with resentment, clearly not intending to let her in.

Geng Shuning was too lazy to engage in verbal battles; she detested these complicated schemes.

She directly ordered Zhao Song and Qiao He: "Get them out of the way and take the third prince away quickly."

"Qiao He, take Wu Mama and get everyone out, kneel in the courtyard, and gag them."

Chunhe was startled and shouted loudly: "What is Lady Suining doing? Although you are a first-rank female official, our mistress is His Majesty's consort!"

"I know who she is," Geng Shuning said indifferently, looking at Chunhe. "I also know that His Majesty is still alive, and it's too soon for her to think about becoming the Empress Dowager!"

Chunhe was dumbfounded: "You..."

Qiao He stepped forward with a cold face, slapped Chunhe to the ground, and scolded—

"Outrageous! Who are you to speak to me so informally? Failing to kneel before a first-rank female official is a crime, disregarding the mistress's safety, making loud noises, the Bureau of Works will not spare you!"

Qingfang also scolded the Wu Mama behind: "What are you waiting for? Quickly follow the mistress's orders, get everyone out!"

"Keep an eye on them, if even one person with a mouth is missing, you won't live either!" She looked at Chunhe with a smirk.

"After all, someone seems to know that their mistress is in critical condition without needing the Imperial Physician or the Bureau of Works to confirm it."

Chunhe was shocked, her face turned even paler, and in a moment of carelessness, Qiao He twisted her hands and pushed her to Qingfang to be guarded.

Screams and muffled groans instantly filled the Yonghe Palace.

The palace servants, adept at petty squabbles, were no match for the secret guards Qiao He, Qingfang, and Qiao Jing.

With the Prince of Lü Commandery facilitating matters, the Bureau of Works had Qiao He investigate early, and the scheming Wu Mama had already been expelled from the palace. The Wu Mamas were quite obedient.

Before Zhao Song could even step out of the Yonghe Palace gate with the third prince, the entire palace fell silent.

Zhao Song marveled inwardly; his master's taste was indeed different from other men's.

What his master liked was not the delicate flower that needed careful nurturing, as his godfather had said, but clearly a man-eating, bone-crushing tyrant flower.

He had never seen a harem conflict develop like this, nor had he seen one suppressed so quickly, with no regard for the concubines' dignity.

He shook his head and quickly carried the third prince to the Changchun Palace.

This matter wasn't his to handle; taking care of the young prince was more important.

*

Geng Shuning had no intention of giving Consort Xi any face.

Her dislike for Niuheru Jingyi was even greater than her dislike for Gualjia Galudai.

Garudai, with her many schemes, knew that some things required sincerity to be reciprocated, and she still had some genuine qualities.

Her scheming was more about going with the flow, persuading people with reason and self-interest.

Having received benefits from Geng Shuning earlier, Garudai had never truly acted against her, at most standing on the sidelines.

The Noble Lady Ning and Su Shi were also drawn together by her using the Fourth Prince's future as leverage.

But Niuheru Jingyi was different; she only had her own interests in mind and would stop at nothing.

When Tong Siya snatched her chance to serve the emperor, she immediately told Geng Shuning everything about Tong Siya and incited her to oppose Geng Shuning.

When a woman in the palace became pregnant, Niuheru Jingyi did not hesitate to cooperate with Consort Mao to cause Su Shi to miscarry.

She constantly claimed to be repaying a favor, even as she schemed against Geng Shuning.

When she realized Geng Shuning was not under her control and knew of the emperor's affection for her, it goes without saying that she wanted Geng Shuning dead, both overtly and covertly...

Geng Shuning entered Niuheru Jingyi's bedchamber with Qiao Jing and saw Consort Xi lying pale and unconscious on the bed.

She felt that Niuheru Jingyi was indeed worthy of being the lady of the family of the historical Consort Xi; the whole family was ruthless.

She asked the Imperial Physician beside her, "How is Consort Xi?"

The Imperial Physician attending to Consort Xi was Dr. Zhou.

Having witnessed the efficiency with which this female official had ordered the servants to be restrained in the courtyard, Dr. Zhou did not dare to be negligent and quickly bowed to reply.

"Reporting to the female official, Consort Xi has been poisoned! This servant has already induced vomiting and had the female physician administer an antidote. She is out of danger."

He paused slightly awkwardly before continuing, "Previously, when Consort Xi was uncomfortable during her menstrual period, she invited Dr. Chang to examine her, who prescribed a pain-relieving and warming tonic soup containing a herb called Aconitum."

Geng Shuning understood that Aconitum, like Tripterygium wilfordii, could be used medicinally after proper processing and had significant uses.

If not processed properly, it could easily cause poisoning, and the toxicity was significant; a slightly larger dose could be fatal, and the dosage was particularly difficult to control.

After the Ula Nara clan used Tripterygium wilfordii last time, the Imperial Hospital specially compiled a list of toxic medicinal materials and presented it to the imperial presence. Yinzhen ordered a reduction in the quantity purchased, to be processed outside the palace and then sent into the palace through the Xihua Gate.

Medical apprentices are still on duty at the West Gate, who conduct thorough checks before allowing anyone through.

Geng Shuning asked, "Have you examined the medicine residue? Was it sourced from the Imperial Hospital?"

If it really came from the Imperial Hospital, then this situation would not be easily resolved.

To a certain extent, the Imperial Hospital is responsible for the health and safety of all the nobility in the imperial court and the inner palace. If even this could be infiltrated, Geng Shuning wouldn't sleep a wink at night.

Imperial Physician Zhou paled slightly and quickly shook his head, "The processed Aconitum features slightly hard, scattered grass heads, with two strands tied together and then cut, tastes slightly sweet and has a faintly pungent smell."

"However, the grass heads in the residue are tied together, but the cut is unusually smooth, emitting a slightly fishy and pungent odor, suggesting it was unprocessed. It definitely could not have come from the Imperial Hospital!"

The Imperial Hospital's medicine cabinets are inspected and locked daily by the hospital judge and the Imperial Kitchen's chief steward. Before use, apprentices personally taste the medicine to ensure its safety.

Had this medicine come from the Imperial Hospital, the apprentices would have been poisoned by now.

Imperial Physician Zhou added, "Symptoms of Aconitum poisoning include persistent diarrhea, tongue numbness, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and cold extremities."

"The young prince has been crying non-stop and is unable to articulate clearly. Before fainting, Consort Xi complained of breathlessness and slurred speech. It must be poisoning."

Geng Shuning mused, "How could the young prince have been exposed to painkillers?"

"Surely a toddler wouldn't be prescribed such medicine, would he?"

Imperial Physician Zhou wiped his brow and bowed even deeper, "This... this humble servant is unaware."

"Imperial Physician Chang specializes in women's and children's health. He diagnosed the young prince earlier. This servant can only confirm that Consort Xi has been poisoned."

Geng Shuning gave a slight nod and instructed Qiao Jing, "Find Nanny Chen and have her organize a palace search."

"Report the matters of Yonghe Palace to Changchun Palace immediately."

Qiao Jing was startled, "Mistress, should all the palaces be searched?"

"Nanny Chen knows where to search," Geng Shuning said.

After Qiao Jing left, she asked Imperial Physician Zhou—

"Is it possible to wake Consort Xi now?"